The Social Security Disability Decision and Your Ability to Work

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

If you’re thinking about applying for social security disability (SSD) benefits, you’re probably wondering if you meet the requirements to receive disability income, and just how social security determines who is truly disabled and will be approved for social security disability benefits, and who is still capable of working, and thus will be denied.

To be eligible for social security disability benefits, a claimant must be both unable to perform any jobs held in the past 15 years, and unable to perform any other job based on claimant’s age, education and limitations, due to the stated medical condition.

After an application for disability is filed, it is sent to the state agency in charge of making disability determinations for social security. Some common names for this agency are the bureau for disability determination services, disability determination division/services, etc., depending upon the state.

A social security examiner will then be assigned, and will determine if the claimant is capable of working after evaluating the medical records. Medical records are evaluated to see to how a claimant’s condition limits him or her, physically and/or mentally, and to what extent this limitation affects the claimant’s ability to work. The examiner will then generate a residual functional capacity form (RFC) detailing the examiner’s residual functional capacity assessment, including what activities a claimant is still able to perform; i.e., what work he or she could do despite the existing medical condition.

An RFC is valid only after it is signed by a medical doctor (M.D.) or psychologist (Ph.D.) who is assigned to the disability examiner’s unit. Separate RFCs are generated for physical and mental limitations, although a claimant may have both physical and mental RFCs, depending on their condition.

In short, the disability medical examiner uses medical records to determine residual functional capacity (a claimant’s ability to work), and then writes an assessment, which must be signed by a doctor (or psychologist, if applicable). Based on the RFC assessment, it is determined if a person has the capacity to work, and if the claimant will be denied or awarded disability benefits.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

How long does it take receive disability benefits after you are approved?

Total Disability - Will social security try to determine if a person is totally disabled?

The Qualification Criteria for Social Security Disability

Filing a Social Security Disability Application - How to File & the Information that is Needed by SSA

Applying for disability benefits in New Jersey

Is getting social security disability easier for mental or physical problems?

Will SSD Be Based On Newer Or Older Medical Records?

What does SSA consider a severe impairment for Social Security Disability or SSI Disability Benefits?

If You are Denied for Disability, What Should You do First?

Does The Social Security Disability Reconsideration Have A Time Limit?

What is the Chance of Winning an SSA appeal for disability?

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To qualify for Social Security disability or SSI, how severe must a condition be?

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Who is eligible for SSI Disability?

If I get disability will my children receive benefits ?

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Social Security Disability Mental Testing

Can You qualify for Social Security disability or SSI on the basis of anxiety or panic attacks ?

Are SSDI and SSI Benefits Normally Continued After A Continuing Disability Review?

FAQ for Social Security Disability Hearings

Will I Qualify For SSI, How Do I Get Approved?

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Who qualifies to Claim Disability Benefits under the SSD or SSI program?

How much does Social Security pay in disability benefits ?

Social Security Disability Advice from the Wrong Sources

How will an attorney help me win disability benefits?

How To Get SSDI Approved

Does Your Last Job Determine If You Receive A Social Security or SSI Award?

Disability Claims Through Social Security — How Long is the Process?

Working while getting Disability - is it possible?

Working while on social security disability and not reporting

Applying for disability benefits in Louisiana

Can’t Work In My Old Job, How Does Social Security Disability Consider This?

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Fibromyalgia and disability

Can You Appeal A Decision By A Judge On A Social Security Disability or SSI Case?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Kentucky

How Long Will It Take For A Decision Letter For Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability SSI and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials